The Youngstown Phantoms announced on Monday that the team was signing forward Logan Anderson to a tender agreement.
Anderson, a 2009-born forward from Florida out of the Florida Alliance program, is the 14th tender in club history.
“Youngstown is just a great place, and I’ve heard great things about it,” Anderson said. “I went up there a couple weeks ago and skated with the team, and it was just a great experience. That’s why I thought it was the right place for me and the right fit.”
Gaining a love of hockey from his father, Anderson has grown up with the game starting from 2 years old. Now, as a 16-year old, the young forward is ready to hit the ground running in the USHL.
“He’s the reason I’m here now,” Anderson said of his father.
During this past season with the Florida Alliance AAA program, Anderson recorded 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists) in 16 games. In four postseason games, the future Phantom recorded six points (4 goals, 2 assists).
“Logan is a prototypical prospect,” Phantoms co-general manager Jason Deskins said. “Good size, probably about 6-foot right now. At least 165 pounds, 170 maybe. He’s still growing. He’s an elite skater, explosive, he’s got a great NHL shot, he can separate with his feet, he’s extremely strong on his skates. He’s the type of kid (who can) legitimately can go into a battle at a 50-50 and just lean on guys and create separation and push guys off balance. He’s an extremely physical, big hitter type of kid who can change the game with body contact, and he’s also the type of kid that can change the game with one play, with the puck on his stick as well.”
With the agreement to tender Anderson, the Phantoms surrender their Phase I, Round 1 selection in the upcoming USHL Draft. When they do that, they’re betting on that player making an immediate impact.
Deskins thinks Anderson is that kind of player. With shades of Matt Boldy (Minnesota Wild) and Sam Reinhart (Florida Panthers) in his game, Anderson should be able to step in and handle the physicality of the USHL well.
“In terms of tenders, we’re looking for kids that we think can come in immediately and make an impact,” Deskins said. “In the USHL, we don’t want to be in a situation where we bring in a young kid and we don’t feel that their body is ready to make an impact from a size and speed and strength standpoint. He’s got a lot of room to still grow and get bigger and stronger and faster, but he’s at a point physically where he’s ready to play junior hockey. I think he can step in our lineup today and help us, to be quite honest.”
When skating with the team a few weeks ago, Anderson hit it off with Phantom forwards Kade Stengrim and Landen Resendes on the ice, and stayed with defenseman Kazimier Sobieski, who filled him in on what it’s like in Youngstown.
“He just told me, like, when you come up here, everyone welcomes you,” Anderson said. “There’s nothing to worry about. All your billets, they take care of you, and you just have a great time up here.”
Anderson wore a letter for his team this past season. While it was a lot of responsibility, it’s something that he was thrilled to have the opportunity to do.
“Being a captain for my team this year, it was a lot, but it was great,” Anderson said. “I had to step up when I needed it, and help the guys get through whenever they were down.”
It’s a trait the Phantoms go after often. When the team is gunning hard for a championship, the road isn’t easy. Players with that leadership experience make the road just that little bit easier.
“We want a room full of leaders. I think that when you look at how a team’s built, it’s got to be built unselfishly, and you have to have people that are more committed to the team, and realize that individuals go further with team success,” Phantoms head coach Ryan Ward said. “I think when you have perennial leaders and captains and former captains, I think that (culture) just kind of breeds itself. Our biggest strength here in Youngstown is the culture. When you have leaders in that locker room that carry your message, that can fight through adversity, that’s a really, really important part of having success.”
Phantom fans can catch their first glimpse of Anderson at the team’s main camp set for the week of June 16 in Canonsburg, Pa.
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